Play

We are kids
Told by our mother
To go outside and do not
Come back until it is dark so
We play in the yards with other
Kids soaking in the summer recess
From school playing all sorts of
Games together we run jump
Yell shout roll all the things
Kids do outside in summer
As the afternoon passes
By and dusk settles on
Our block but we are
Having such fun we
Refuse to go inside
Until the street
Lights come
On and we
Trudge
Home.
Many years
Later I am standing
In a great art museum
Looking at Brueghel’s painting
Children At Play and remember the
Thrill of play as a kid boundless
Energy curiosity and the fun
Of playing outside until
It got dark and we
Came inside for
A late bite to
Eat then so
Tired we
Fell
Asleep
Dreaming
Of flying at play
With our imagination.
Now I am an old man ignoring
The street lights about to
Come on having too
Much fun to go
Inside just yet
Maybe tonight
I’ll dream
Of flying
At play
In the
Clouds.